Value retail continues to lead the way in shopping tourism with expansion and new partnerships

This year at World Travel Market (WTM), Chic Outlet Shopping® by Value Retail unveils a series of announcements as it continues to innovate the shopping tourism sector with the best-performing shopping destinations, in terms of sales densities, in the world. The company highlights expansion in both Europe and China and is announcing new partnerships.

Leading the way in luxury retail, Chic Outlet Shopping® by Value Retail across Europe and China is the only company to specialise exclusively in the creation of luxury outlet shopping destinations. The Collection of nine Villages in Europe attracted more than 32.5 million visits in 2014. Since 2006, the Collection of Villages in Europe has achieved, without exception, (39) consecutive quarters of double‐digit growth in tax refunded (non‐EU) sales.
Chiltern Railways unveils new ‘Bicester Village Station’
• On 26 October, Chiltern Railways unveiled a new train line between Oxford and London; the first rail link to be constructed between a major British city and London in more than 100 years – enabling guests to arrive at the Village, from London, in as little as 46 minutes.
Funded by Chiltern Railways – with an investment of £130 million – the new section of rail network will create a seamless commute for locals from the new Oxford Parkway station at Water Eaton to London, via Bicester Village. Guests travelling to Bicester Village Station by rail are welcomed at the state-of-the-art facility, which leads to the Bicester Village Information Hub; a chic destination furnished in marble, mirror and luxurious furniture. Here, guests can discover a selection of superior services to enhance their experience in the Village in convenience and style. The services available from the Information Hub includes a Luggage Drop facility and Hands-free Shopping – a shopping collection service that arranges guests’ shopping to be ready to collect at their point of departure.
Village expansions in Ireland and China
• Kildare Village, near Dublin has added 33 new boutiques, a new restaurant and café. The €50 million investment will provide the Village’s international guests with a greater variety of Irish and international brands, in addition to enhanced hospitality services.
• Suzhou Village – the first Village to be opened in China (May 2014) – continues to grow as a leading shopping tourism destination, with a distinctive combination of Chinese, Asian and international brands including Kate Spade, Maje, Furla, CH Carolina Herrera and Brooks Brothers. Shanghai Village, the second Village in China, will open in spring 2016 adjacent to the Shanghai Disney Resort.
First global partnership with Hilton HHonors
• Value Retail announced its first global hotel partnership with Hilton HHonors, Hilton Worldwide’s established loyalty programme. HHonors members, spanning the company's portfolio of 12 world-class global brands, are now provided with the opportunity to earn points on purchases made across Value Retail’s nine European Villages.
Group Tourism Director for Value Retail, Marcelo Molinari, comments on the new partnership: “This new partnership with Hilton offers our mutual customers added value as they shop and earn rewards with Hilton HHonors. As a luxury retail destination, Value Retail shares similar values to Hilton Worldwide, in that we endeavour to offer elevated luxury experiences for all guests to our Villages.”
To claim HHonors points, guests can simply present their HHonors card and receipts at the Welcome or Tourist Information Centre in each Village. This is another added benefit for Value Retail guests who can currently take advantage of a series of loyalty schemes – including air miles and credit card partnerships – while shopping in the Villages.
Value Retail helps to launch UNWTO Shopping Tourism Network
• As an Affiliate Member of the UNWTO, Value Retail took part in the launch of its first Shopping Tourism Network, at the UNWTO General Assembly, in Medellin, Colombia in September. The Shopping Tourism Network acts as a forum within the Affiliate Members Programme, in which participants can benefit from a platform to generate, disseminate and apply specific knowledge, tapping in on the huge potential of Shopping Tourism to boost and position tourist destinations.
Strong results for Business Tourism (MICE)
• Value Retail is the first retailer in the industry to focus on business tourism and 2015 has been a record-breaking year so far: business tourism events have increased by 130% in quarter two compared to last year, with attendees across the Collection of Villages increasing by 33%.
Chic Outlet Shopping® by Value Retail will be located at stand GV430 in WTM 2015.